Are these schools ‘The New Ivies’? Ten elite universities that won’t break the bank
The Ivy League has long been glorified as the cream of the crop when it comes to American universities.
But after a wave of scandals and rising tuition prices, a new crop of much more affordable schools is closing in on their turf.
And now that new data shows that even the most expensive education does not always lead to a high salary, families are looking elsewhere.
Forbes has now released a list of the names of the ‘new Ivies’.
The average tuition for freshmen at the 10 most affordable “new Ivies” is $20,000 less — versus $42,233 for out-of-state students. Financial aid recipients at these schools pay an average of $15,436, according to this report College Scorecard.
1. University of Florida
Pictured: The University of Florida
- Out-of-state tuition: $28,658 per year
- In the state with financial aid: $6,275 per year
2. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Pictured: The University of North Carolina’s Chapel Hill Seal on a stone walkway
- Out-of-state tuition: $39,228 per year
- In the state with financial aid: $12,414 per year
3. Georgia Institute of Technology
In the photo: a view of the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology
- Out-of-state tuition: $32,940 per year
- In the state with financial aid: $14,588 per year
4. Rice University
Pictured: Rice University in Houston, Texas
- Out-of-state tuition: $62,874 per year
- In the state with financial aid: $15,091 per year
5. University of Illinois Urbana – Champaign
Pictured: The campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Illinois
- Out-of-state tuition: $36,760 – $44,664 per year (varies based on major)
- In the state with financial aid: $16,109 per year
6. University of Maryland – College Park
Pictured: The University of Maryland
- Out-of-state tuition: $39,464 per year
- In the state with financial aid: $16,590 per year
7. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Pictured: The University of Michigan
- Out-of-state tuition: $27,864 per year (figure reflects 2023-24 tuition price, 2024-25 price not available)
- In the state with financial aid: $16,792 per year
8. University of Wisconsin – Madison
Pictured: University of Wisconsin – Madison
- Out-of-state tuition: $42,104 per year
- In the state with financial aid: $16,834 per year
9. University of Texas – Austin
Pictured: The Main Building (colloquially known as The Tower) – a downtown building of the University of Texas at Austin campus
- Out-of-state tuition: $40,582 – $48,712 per year (varies based on major)
- In the state with financial aid: $18,850 per year
10. Johns Hopkins University
Pictured: Johns Hopkins University
- Out-of-state tuition: $64,730 per year
- In the state with financial aid: $20,820 per year